U.S. patent application number 16/275581 was filed with the patent office on 2019-08-15 for systems and methods for issuer-specified domain controls on a payment instrument.
The applicant listed for this patent is JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.. Invention is credited to Tuan Dao, Craig M. Mullaney, Scott H. Ouellette, David G. Seeney, Howard Spector.
Application Number | 20190251565 16/275581 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67540882 |
Filed Date | 2019-08-15 |




United States Patent
Application |
20190251565 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mullaney; Craig M. ; et
al. |
August 15, 2019 |
SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ISSUER-SPECIFIED DOMAIN CONTROLS ON A
PAYMENT INSTRUMENT
Abstract
Systems and methods for issuer-specified domain control on a
payment instrument are disclosed. In one embodiment, in an
information processing apparatus comprising at least one computer
processor, a method for issuer-specified domain controls on a
payment instrument may include: (1) receiving, from an issuer of a
financial instrument, an identification of a domain control or
restriction on a payment token for the financial instrument, the
domain control or restriction to be applied by the issuer; (2)
requesting generation of the payment token with a pass-through
indicator from a token service provider; (3) receiving, from the
token service provider, the payment token; and (4) storing an
association of the domain control or restriction and the payment
token.
Inventors: |
Mullaney; Craig M.; (Newark,
DE) ; Spector; Howard; (Woolwich, NJ) ;
Ouellette; Scott H.; (Kingston, NH) ; Dao; Tuan;
(Richardson, TX) ; Seeney; David G.; (Wilmington,
DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. |
New York |
NY |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
67540882 |
Appl. No.: |
16/275581 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62630505 |
Feb 14, 2018 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 20/405 20130101;
G06Q 20/3224 20130101; G06Q 20/4016 20130101; G06Q 20/385
20130101 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 20/40 20060101
G06Q020/40; G06Q 20/38 20060101 G06Q020/38 |
Claims
1. A method for generating a payment token having issuer-specified
domain controls, comprising: in an information processing apparatus
comprising at least one computer processor: receiving, from an
issuer of a financial instrument, an identification of a domain
control or restriction on a payment token for the financial
instrument, the domain control or restriction to be applied by the
issuer; requesting generation of the payment token with a
pass-through indicator from a token service provider; receiving,
from the token service provider, the payment token; and storing an
association of the domain control or restriction and the payment
token.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pass-through indicator is a
bank identification number.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pass-through indicator is a
cryptogram parameter for the payment token.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the token service provider is not
associated with a payment network.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the domain control or restriction
is applied by the issuer.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the domain control or restriction
is dynamic.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the domain control or restriction
controls use of the payment token with a certain merchant, with a
certain device, in a certain environment, at a certain time, in a
certain geography, or at a certain authentication level.
8. A method for processing a transaction using issuer-specified
domain controls, comprising: in an information processing apparatus
comprising at least one computer processor: receiving, from a
payment network, a transaction comprising a payment token, the
payment token comprising a pass-through indicator; retrieving a
domain control or restriction associated with the payment token;
and applying the control or restriction to the transaction.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the pass-through indicator is a
bank identification number.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein the pass-through indicator is a
cryptogram parameter for the payment token.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the domain control or
restriction controls use of the payment token with a certain
merchant, with a certain device, in a certain environment, at a
certain time, in a certain geography, or at a certain
authentication level.
12. The method of claim 8, wherein the domain control or
restriction is dynamic.
13. The method of claim 8, wherein the domain control or
restriction is stored in a database.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising: updating the domain
control or restriction stored in the database.
15. The method of claim 8, wherein the payment network applies a
payment-network level domain control or restriction on the
transaction.
16. A system for processing a transaction using issuer-specified
domain controls, comprising: an issuer of a financial instrument
system; a payment network; and a token service provider; wherein:
the payment network receives a transaction comprising a payment
token, the payment token comprising a pass-through indicator; the
payment network passes the transaction to the issuer; the issuer
system receives a domain control or restriction associated with the
payment token; and the issuer system applies the control or
restriction to the transaction.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the pass-through indicator is a
bank identification number.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the pass-through indicator is a
cryptogram parameter for the payment token.
19. The system of claim 16, wherein the domain control or
restriction controls use of the payment token with a certain
merchant, with a certain device, in a certain environment, at a
certain time, in a certain geography, or at a certain
authentication level.
20. The system of claim 16, wherein the payment network applies a
payment-network level domain control or restriction on the
transaction before passing the transaction to the issuer.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 62/630,505, filed Feb. 14, 2018, the
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated, by reference, in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to systems and
methods for issuer-specified domain control on a payment
instrument.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] Token service providers, such as Visa, often include domain
restrictions or controls on the tokens that they generate in order
to reduce or eliminate fraud. For example, a token provisioned for
Apple Pay may be restricted to Apple Pay-enabled devices. As
another example, a token provisioned for one merchant may not be
able to be used with another merchant. A financial instrument
issuer, however, may wish to specify which domain restrictions or
controls are used, if any, when requesting the token from the token
provider. For example, an issuer may not want the payment network
to use any domain restrictions or controls on the transaction, and
may instead apply its own restrictions or controls on the
transaction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Systems and methods for issuer-specified domain control on a
payment instrument are disclosed. In one embodiment, in an
information processing apparatus comprising at least one computer
processor, a method for issuer-specified domain controls on a
payment instrument may include: (1) receiving, from an issuer of a
financial instrument, an identification of a domain control or
restriction on a payment token for the financial instrument, the
domain control or restriction to be applied by the issuer; (2)
requesting generation of the payment token with a pass-through
indicator from a token service provider; (3) receiving, from the
token service provider, the payment token; and (4) storing an
association of the domain control or restriction and the payment
token.
[0005] In one embodiment, the pass-through indicator may include a
bank identification number, a cryptogram parameter for the payment
token, etc.
[0006] In one embodiment, the token service provider may not be
associated with a payment network.
[0007] In one embodiment, the domain control or restriction may be
applied by the issuer.
[0008] In one embodiment, the domain control or restriction may be
dynamic.
[0009] In one embodiment, the domain control or restriction may
control use of the payment token with a certain merchant, with a
certain device, in a certain environment, at a certain time, in a
certain geography, or at a certain authentication level.
[0010] In another embodiment, in an information processing
apparatus comprising at least one computer processor, a method for
processing a transaction using issuer-specified domain controls may
include: (1) receiving, from a payment network, a transaction
comprising a payment token, the payment token comprising a
pass-through indicator; (2) retrieving a domain control or
restriction associated with the payment token; and (3) applying the
control or restriction to the transaction.
[0011] In one embodiment, the pass-through indicator may be a bank
identification number, a cryptogram parameter for the payment
token, etc.
[0012] In one embodiment, the domain control or restriction may
control use of the payment token with a certain merchant, with a
certain device, in a certain environment, at a certain time, in a
certain geography, or at a certain authentication level.
[0013] In one embodiment, the domain control or restriction may be
dynamic.
[0014] In one embodiment, the domain control or restriction may be
stored in a database.
[0015] In one embodiment, the method may further include updating
the domain control or restriction stored in the database.
[0016] In one embodiment, the payment network may apply a
payment-network level domain control or restriction on the
transaction.
[0017] According to another embodiment, a system for processing a
transaction using issuer-specified domain controls may include an
issuer of a financial instrument system; a payment network; and a
token service provider system. The payment network may receive a
transaction comprising a payment token, the payment token
comprising a pass-through indicator and may pass the transaction to
the issuer. The issuer system may receive a domain control or
restriction associated with the payment token and may apply the
control or restriction to the transaction.
[0018] In one embodiment, the pass-through indicator may be a bank
identification number, a cryptogram parameter for the payment
token, etc.
[0019] In one embodiment, the domain control or restriction may
control use of the payment token with a certain merchant, with a
certain device, in a certain environment, at a certain time, in a
certain geography, or at a certain authentication level.
[0020] In one embodiment, the payment network may apply a
payment-network level domain control or restriction on the
transaction before passing the transaction to the issuer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
the objects and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the
following descriptions taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings in which:
[0022] FIG. 1 depicts a system for issuer-specified domain control
on a payment instrument according to one embodiment;
[0023] FIG. 2 depicts a method for token creation with
issuer-specified domain controls according to one embodiment;
and
[0024] FIG. 3 depicts a method for processing a transaction using
issuer-specified domain controls according to one embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0025] Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for
issuer-specified domain controls on a payment instrument.
[0026] In embodiments, as part of the token request process, the
financial instrument issuer may specify the controls or
restrictions, if any, on a token, such as a payment token. The
token service provider may then generate and/or issue a token in
accordance with the token request. In one embodiment, the token
service provider may associate the controls or restrictions, or a
lack thereof, for the token based on the bank identification
number, or BIN, for the token. Thus, when a transaction is
conducted using the token, the payment network may execute the
restriction(s) or control(s) associated with the BIN.
[0027] In another embodiment, the token service provider may
associate the restrictions or controls, if any, with the token, and
may store the association in the token service provider's token
vault. Thus, when a transaction is conducted using the token, the
payment network may retrieve the control(s) or restriction(s), if
any, from the token service provider's token vault, and execute the
restriction(s) or control(s) that are retrieved.
[0028] In another embodiment, tokens generated by a third party may
be used. Because these tokens are not generated by the token
service provider, the payment network may ignore the tokens and
allow them to pass through the payment network to the issuer
without any controls or restrictions being executed.
[0029] In another embodiment, a unique cryptogram may be used to
identify the restrictions or controls. For example, the unique
cryptogram may be attached to, or associated with, a token, and may
identify or reference one or more control or restriction associated
with the token. Any suitable cryptogram may be used. An example of
a cryptogram that may be used is provided in U.S. Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/552,506, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated, by reference, in its entirety.
[0030] In embodiments, a combination of any of the above may be
used as is necessary and/or desired.
[0031] In one embodiment, once the tokens pass through the payment
network to the issuer, the issuer may impose its own controls or
restrictions on the tokens, which may be based on any of the above
techniques, or any other techniques as is necessary and/or desired.
Additional techniques, such as internally mapping the token to one
or more controls or restrictions, may also be used as is necessary
and or desired.
[0032] In one embodiment, both the payment network and the issuer
may apply controls or restrictions. For example, the payment
network may apply coarsely-grained controls or restrictions (e.g.,
verify that a token provisioned for ApplePay was received from an
ApplePay-enabled device), and the issuer may apply finely-grained
controls or restrictions (e.g., only permit transaction if it does
not exceed a certain amount).
[0033] Referring to FIG. 1, a system for issuer-specified domain
control on a payment instrument is disclosed according to one
embodiment. System 100 may include issuer 110 that may issue a
financial instrument (e.g., a credit card, debit card, etc.) to
customer 170. Issuer 110 may be a financial institution, a
financial technology services provider, etc.
[0034] Issuer 110 may receive transactions from merchant 160 via
acquirer 150 and payment network 130. Issuer 110 may further
interact with token service provider 120, which may manage payment
tokens and store the tokens in TSP token vault 125. In one
embodiment, token service provider 120 may be affiliated with
payment network 130 such that payment network 130 may take one or
more actions, such as executing a control or restriction, based on
tokens issued or managed by token service provider 120.
[0035] Issuer 110 may also interact with third party token provider
140. Third party token provider 140 may provide tokens for issuer
110 and may store its tokens in third party token vault 145. In one
embodiment, payment network 130 and third party token vault may not
have any association; thus, the actions that payment network 130
may take with third party token provider 140's tokens may be
limited or non-existent.
[0036] In one embodiment, a cryptogram lockbox (not shown) may be
used to generate cryptograms locally at merchant 160. Examples of
cryptogram lockbox systems and methods are disclosed in U.S. Patent
Application Publication No. 62/680,674, the disclosure of which is
hereby incorporated, by reference, in its entirety.
[0037] The cryptogram lockbox may generate cryptograms or other
parameters that may be used to indicate domain controls or
restrictions. In one embodiment, the owner of the lockbox (e.g.,
issuer 110) may modify the parameters, directly or remotely, to
change how the domain controls or restrictions are applied.
[0038] In one embodiment, issuer 110 may host controls/restrictions
database 112 that may store an association between the token and
the controls or restrictions that are to be applied by issuer 110.
Issuer 110 may further host issuer token vault 114 that may store
an association between the token and the related financial
instrument.
[0039] In one embodiment, two or more of issuer token vault 114,
TSP token vault 125, and third party token vault 145 may be
synchronized. Examples of systems and methods for synchronizing two
or more of these token vault are disclosed in U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 16/010,766, U.S. Provisional Patent
Application Ser. No. 62/556,530, and U.S. patent application Ser.
No. 16/126,201, the disclosure of each of which is hereby
incorporated by reference in its entirety.
[0040] Referring to FIG. 2, a method for token creation with
issuer-specified domain controls is disclosed according to one
embodiment. In step 205, an issuer may identify controls or
restrictions to be placed on a token. In one embodiment, the
controls or restrictions may be domain restrictions that may
prevent the token from being used with certain merchants, certain
devices (e.g., smartphone, no ATMs, etc.), in certain environments
(e.g., online only, in-person only, etc.), at certain times, in
certain geographies, with a certain level of authentication, below
a certain amount, token use velocity (e.g., limited number of uses)
etc. In one embodiment, the controls or restrictions may be dynamic
in that they may vary and change over the course of time.
[0041] In step 210, the issuer may have the controls or
restrictions applied by the payment network, or may have the
payment network pass the transaction through to the issuer. If the
payment network is to apply the controls or restrictions, in step
215, the issuer may provide the controls or restrictions to the
token service provider. In one embodiment, the issuer may provide a
bank identification number (BIN) or BIN range for the token that
may indicate such.
[0042] In another embodiment, the issuer may identify a flag,
indicator, field, a cryptogram parameter, etc. that may be included
in or associated with the token for indicating that the payment
network is to apply the controls or restrictions.
[0043] In one embodiment, rules may be provided to be enforced
against the cryptogram for the token, such as how long the
cryptogram is valid, how many times the cryptogram may be used, if
the cryptogram is required, etc. In one embodiment, the rules may
be managed by the token service provider and/or the issuer, and may
be enforced by the payment network and/or the issuer.
[0044] In step 220, the token service provider may generate a token
having the controls or restrictions. In one embodiment, the token
may be generated by generating a unique 15-digit number with the
specified BIN (i.e., the first six digits), and calculating a check
digit for the sixteenth digit.
[0045] In step 225, the token service provider may store the token
with the controls or restrictions in the token service provider's
token vault.
[0046] If, in step 210, the payment network is to pass a
transaction involving the token through to the issuer without
applying controls or restrictions, in step 230, the issuer may
request that the token service provider generate a token. The
issuer may provide the token service provider with an indication
that the payment network is to pass the transaction through to the
issuer without applying controls or restrictions. In one
embodiment, the issuer may provide a BIN or BIN range for the token
that may indicate such.
[0047] In another embodiment, the issuer may identify a flag,
indicator, field, a cryptogram parameter, etc. that may be included
in or associated with the token for indicating that the payment
network is to pass the transaction to the issuer without applying
controls or restrictions.
[0048] In one embodiment, rules may be provided to be enforced
against the cryptogram for the token, such as how long the
cryptogram is valid, how many times the cryptogram may be used, if
the cryptogram is required, etc. In one embodiment, the rules may
be managed by the token service provider and/or the issuer, and may
be enforced by the payment network and/or the issuer.
[0049] In step 235, the token service provider may generate a token
having the specified BIN, as described above, and may return the
token to the issuer. In one embodiment, the token service provider
may generate the token with an indication that the payment network
is to pass the transaction to the issuer without the payment
network taking action. In another embodiment, the BIN may indicate
that the token is to pass to the issuer without the payment network
taking action.
[0050] In one embodiment, instead of the token service provider, a
third party token provider may generate the token for the issuer,
and may return the token to the issuer. In one embodiment, the
third party token provider may store the token and a
cross-reference to the real account number in its token vault. The
third party token provider may also manage the controls or
restriction(s), and may return a decision to the issuing
system.
[0051] The third party token provider may perform any desired
combination of these and other functions.
[0052] In step 240, the issuer may associate the token with the
controls or restrictions and may store the association in a
database.
[0053] In step 245, the issuer may add, modify, or delete controls
or restrictions for the token. For example, the controls or
restrictions may be dynamic, in that the issuer may enable,
disable, add, delete, or modify the controls or restrictions as is
necessary and/or desired. In one embodiment, the controls or
restrictions may be updated in the database.
[0054] Referring to FIG. 3, a method for processing a transaction
using issuer-specified domain controls is disclosed according to
one embodiment.
[0055] In step 305, a transaction between a merchant and customer
may be received at a payment network via an acquirer. In one
embodiment, the transaction may include a token.
[0056] In step 310, the payment network may identify any
restrictions or controls on the use of the token. In one
embodiment, the payment network may identify these controls or
restriction based on the BIN, based on the cryptogram, based on an
indicator in the token, a field in or associated with the token, a
combination thereof, etc.
[0057] In one embodiment, the payment network may retrieve the
controls or restrictions from a token vault.
[0058] In one embodiment, an indicator in or associated with the
token (e.g., the BIN, cryptogram, indicator, field, etc.) may
specify that the payment network is to pass the transaction to the
issuer without applying any controls or restrictions.
[0059] In step 315, if controls or restriction are to be applied by
the payment network, in step 320, the payment network may apply the
controls or restrictions to the transaction.
[0060] In step 325, if controls or restriction are not to be
applied by the payment network, in step 325, the payment network
may pass the transaction to the issuer without applying controls or
restrictions to the transaction.
[0061] In step 330, the issuer may retrieve controls or
restrictions for the token. In one embodiment, the issuer may
retrieve the controls or restrictions from a database, or may
retrieve controls or restrictions associated with the BIN.
[0062] In step 335, the issuer may apply the retrieved controls or
restrictions to the transaction, and the transaction may be
approved or denied.
[0063] It should be recognized that the embodiments disclosed
herein are not exclusive to each other; features and elements from
one embodiment may be used with others as is necessary and/or
desired.
[0064] Hereinafter, general aspects of implementation of the
systems and methods of the invention will be described.
[0065] The system of the invention or portions of the system of the
invention may be in the form of a "processing machine," such as a
general purpose computer, for example. As used herein, the term
"processing machine" is to be understood to include at least one
processor that uses at least one memory. The at least one memory
stores a set of instructions. The instructions may be either
permanently or temporarily stored in the memory or memories of the
processing machine. The processor executes the instructions that
are stored in the memory or memories in order to process data. The
set of instructions may include various instructions that perform a
particular task or tasks, such as those tasks described above. Such
a set of instructions for performing a particular task may be
characterized as a program, software program, or simply
software.
[0066] In one embodiment, the processing machine may be a
specialized processor.
[0067] As noted above, the processing machine executes the
instructions that are stored in the memory or memories to process
data. This processing of data may be in response to commands by a
user or users of the processing machine, in response to previous
processing, in response to a request by another processing machine
and/or any other input, for example.
[0068] As noted above, the processing machine used to implement the
invention may be a general purpose computer. However, the
processing machine described above may also utilize any of a wide
variety of other technologies including a special purpose computer,
a computer system including, for example, a microcomputer,
mini-computer or mainframe, a programmed microprocessor, a
micro-controller, a peripheral integrated circuit element, a CSIC
(Customer Specific Integrated Circuit) or ASIC (Application
Specific Integrated Circuit) or other integrated circuit, a logic
circuit, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device
such as a FPGA, PLD, PLA or PAL, or any other device or arrangement
of devices that is capable of implementing the steps of the
processes of the invention.
[0069] The processing machine used to implement the invention may
utilize a suitable operating system. Thus, embodiments of the
invention may include a processing machine running the iOS
operating system, the OS X operating system, the Android operating
system, the Microsoft Windows.TM. operating systems, the Unix
operating system, the Linux operating system, the Xenix operating
system, the IBM AIX.TM. operating system, the Hewlett-Packard
UX.TM. operating system, the Novell Netware.TM. operating system,
the Sun Microsystems Solaris.TM. operating system, the OS/2.TM.
operating system, the BeOS.TM. operating system, the Macintosh
operating system, the Apache operating system, an OpenStep.TM.
operating system or another operating system or platform.
[0070] It is appreciated that in order to practice the method of
the invention as described above, it is not necessary that the
processors and/or the memories of the processing machine be
physically located in the same geographical place. That is, each of
the processors and the memories used by the processing machine may
be located in geographically distinct locations and connected so as
to communicate in any suitable manner. Additionally, it is
appreciated that each of the processor and/or the memory may be
composed of different physical pieces of equipment. Accordingly, it
is not necessary that the processor be one single piece of
equipment in one location and that the memory be another single
piece of equipment in another location. That is, it is contemplated
that the processor may be two pieces of equipment in two different
physical locations. The two distinct pieces of equipment may be
connected in any suitable manner. Additionally, the memory may
include two or more portions of memory in two or more physical
locations.
[0071] To explain further, processing, as described above, is
performed by various components and various memories. However, it
is appreciated that the processing performed by two distinct
components as described above may, in accordance with a further
embodiment of the invention, be performed by a single component.
Further, the processing performed by one distinct component as
described above may be performed by two distinct components. In a
similar manner, the memory storage performed by two distinct memory
portions as described above may, in accordance with a further
embodiment of the invention, be performed by a single memory
portion. Further, the memory storage performed by one distinct
memory portion as described above may be performed by two memory
portions.
[0072] Further, various technologies may be used to provide
communication between the various processors and/or memories, as
well as to allow the processors and/or the memories of the
invention to communicate with any other entity; i.e., so as to
obtain further instructions or to access and use remote memory
stores, for example. Such technologies used to provide such
communication might include a network, the Internet, Intranet,
Extranet, LAN, an Ethernet, wireless communication via cell tower
or satellite, or any client server system that provides
communication, for example. Such communications technologies may
use any suitable protocol such as TCP/IP, UDP, or OSI, for
example.
[0073] As described above, a set of instructions may be used in the
processing of the invention. The set of instructions may be in the
form of a program or software. The software may be in the form of
system software or application software, for example. The software
might also be in the form of a collection of separate programs, a
program module within a larger program, or a portion of a program
module, for example. The software used might also include modular
programming in the form of object oriented programming. The
software tells the processing machine what to do with the data
being processed.
[0074] Further, it is appreciated that the instructions or set of
instructions used in the implementation and operation of the
invention may be in a suitable form such that the processing
machine may read the instructions. For example, the instructions
that form a program may be in the form of a suitable programming
language, which is converted to machine language or object code to
allow the processor or processors to read the instructions. That
is, written lines of programming code or source code, in a
particular programming language, are converted to machine language
using a compiler, assembler or interpreter. The machine language is
binary coded machine instructions that are specific to a particular
type of processing machine, i.e., to a particular type of computer,
for example. The computer understands the machine language.
[0075] Any suitable programming language may be used in accordance
with the various embodiments of the invention. Illustratively, the
programming language used may include assembly language, Ada, APL,
Basic, C, C++, COBOL, dBase, Forth, Fortran, Java, Modula-2,
Pascal, Prolog, REXX, Visual Basic, and/or JavaScript, for example.
Further, it is not necessary that a single type of instruction or
single programming language be utilized in conjunction with the
operation of the system and method of the invention. Rather, any
number of different programming languages may be utilized as is
necessary and/or desirable.
[0076] Also, the instructions and/or data used in the practice of
the invention may utilize any compression or encryption technique
or algorithm, as may be desired. An encryption module might be used
to encrypt data. Further, files or other data may be decrypted
using a suitable decryption module, for example.
[0077] As described above, the invention may illustratively be
embodied in the form of a processing machine, including a computer
or computer system, for example, that includes at least one memory.
It is to be appreciated that the set of instructions, i.e., the
software for example, that enables the computer operating system to
perform the operations described above may be contained on any of a
wide variety of media or medium, as desired. Further, the data that
is processed by the set of instructions might also be contained on
any of a wide variety of media or medium. That is, the particular
medium, i.e., the memory in the processing machine, utilized to
hold the set of instructions and/or the data used in the invention
may take on any of a variety of physical forms or transmissions,
for example. Illustratively, the medium may be in the form of
paper, paper transparencies, a compact disk, a DVD, an integrated
circuit, a hard disk, a floppy disk, an optical disk, a magnetic
tape, a RAM, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, a wire, a cable, a fiber, a
communications channel, a satellite transmission, a memory card, a
SIM card, or other remote transmission, as well as any other medium
or source of data that may be read by the processors of the
invention.
[0078] Further, the memory or memories used in the processing
machine that implements the invention may be in any of a wide
variety of forms to allow the memory to hold instructions, data, or
other information, as is desired. Thus, the memory might be in the
form of a database to hold data. The database might use any desired
arrangement of files such as a flat file arrangement or a
relational database arrangement, for example.
[0079] In the system and method of the invention, a variety of
"user interfaces" may be utilized to allow a user to interface with
the processing machine or machines that are used to implement the
invention. As used herein, a user interface includes any hardware,
software, or combination of hardware and software used by the
processing machine that allows a user to interact with the
processing machine. A user interface may be in the form of a
dialogue screen for example. A user interface may also include any
of a mouse, touch screen, keyboard, keypad, voice reader, voice
recognizer, dialogue screen, menu box, list, checkbox, toggle
switch, a pushbutton or any other device that allows a user to
receive information regarding the operation of the processing
machine as it processes a set of instructions and/or provides the
processing machine with information. Accordingly, the user
interface is any device that provides communication between a user
and a processing machine. The information provided by the user to
the processing machine through the user interface may be in the
form of a command, a selection of data, or some other input, for
example.
[0080] As discussed above, a user interface is utilized by the
processing machine that performs a set of instructions such that
the processing machine processes data for a user. The user
interface is typically used by the processing machine for
interacting with a user either to convey information or receive
information from the user. However, it should be appreciated that
in accordance with some embodiments of the system and method of the
invention, it is not necessary that a human user actually interact
with a user interface used by the processing machine of the
invention. Rather, it is also contemplated that the user interface
of the invention might interact, i.e., convey and receive
information, with another processing machine, rather than a human
user. Accordingly, the other processing machine might be
characterized as a user. Further, it is contemplated that a user
interface utilized in the system and method of the invention may
interact partially with another processing machine or processing
machines, while also interacting partially with a human user.
[0081] It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in
the art that the present invention is susceptible to broad utility
and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present
invention other than those herein described, as well as many
variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be
apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and
foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance
or scope of the invention.
[0082] Accordingly, while the present invention has been described
here in detail in relation to its exemplary embodiments, it is to
be understood that this disclosure is only illustrative and
exemplary of the present invention and is made to provide an
enabling disclosure of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing
disclosure is not intended to be construed or to limit the present
invention or otherwise to exclude any other such embodiments,
adaptations, variations, modifications or equivalent
arrangements.
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